骨肉相关:广东社会中对死亡污染的控制

Of Flesh and Bones:The Management of Death Pollution in Cantonese Society

探究葬礼最初阶段中死亡污染的社会含义。对仪式过程的分析有助于人们理解广东社会组织的许多方面,并表明在死者从一具危险的尸体转变成一位被安葬的祖先之前,他的后代必须要采取措施来沾染或控制其死亡污染。沾染这种污染应当被理解为生者与死者之间交换关系中的第一次交易,这种交换关系会延续很多世代。在葬礼的最初阶段,死者的力量极大,也最不可预知。然而,当骸骨被安葬到最终的坟墓之后,祖先就完全要依靠活着的后代了。

This paper explores into the social meaning of death pollution in the initial stage of the funeral. Analysis of the funeral would help people understand the many aspects of the Cantonese society. Before a dead body becomes an ancestor, his offsprings should take measures to control such death pollution. Contagion may be regarded as the first deal in the transaction between the living and the dead, which will last for many generations. In the initial stage of the funeral, the force of the dead is powerful and unpredictable. However, when the bones are buried, the ancestors have to fully rely on their offsprings.